National strategies and plans – focusing on HIV and beyond – are key platforms for articulating an HIV response that advances gender equality, champions women’s rights, engages men and boys, and ends GBV as a cause and consequence of HIV. As such, the Johannesburg December 2012 meeting supported delegations from six countries to review their current national policies, strategies, and plans, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of these plans with regard to addressing GBV and engaging men and boys for gender equality. The policy analysis, and related discussions, informed the development of country action plans to strengthen cross-cutting attention to gender equality, GBV, and engaging men and boys in their national planning processes and forthcoming national HIV strategies and plans.